Ghost of Yotei review: a near-perfect sequel

Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Tsushima was a masterpiece in world-building and Samurai fantasy, a game I absolutely adored. It was a beautiful, sprawling adventure that captured the hearts of millions. Now, the studio returns with its highly anticipated sequel, Ghost of Yotei, and I’m thrilled to say that it takes everything that made the original a masterpiece and refines it to near perfection. The changes to gameplay, narrative, and graphics are all for the better, creating an experience that is both comfortingly familiar and exhilaratingly new.

At its core, Ghost of Yotei is an action-adventure game with light RPG elements, but it’s also a flagship PlayStation exclusive that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the platform’s best. If you enjoyed Ghost of Tsushima or other first-party titans like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök, you are in for an unforgettable journey.

Table of Contents

Story: A Tale of Vengeance and Found Family

Where Ghost of Tsushima was a story about Jin Sakai’s internal conflict between the samurai code of honour and the desperate tactics of the Ghost, Ghost of Yotei is a much more personal and visceral tale. This time, the motivation is pure revenge. You play as Atsu, a swift and determined warrior whose family was brutally murdered by a band of ruthless mercenaries known as the Yotei 6.

The game masterfully opens with Atsu as a “lone wolf,” driven solely by her quest for vengeance. However, the narrative beautifully evolves. Along her journey, she meets a cast of compelling companions, each of whom offers more than just their allegiance. They teach her new tactics, provide unique weapons, and share invaluable skills. The central theme crystallises not around a solitary quest, but around the idea that even the fiercest wolf is part of a pack. It is this profound bond between the characters that forms the emotional core of the story. Without delving into spoilers, rest assured that the narrative is one of the game’s strongest suits, packed with compelling plot twists and emotional weight.

Gameplay: Familiar, Yet Evolved

The best way to describe the gameplay in Ghost of Yotei is “familiar and evolved.” The satisfying combat and exploration from Tsushima are back, but with significant enhancements. The rollout of new weapons and abilities is staggered, ensuring the gameplay loop remains fresh and engaging from start to finish. While you aren’t free to hunt down the Yotei 6 in any order, the game provides considerable freedom in how you approach each chapter of your quest. To pursue a target, you must complete a series of quests, often culminating in the acquisition of a new skill or weapon. While some of this equipment is optional, I highly recommend exploring all of it to experience the rich combat system fully.

A fantastic new addition is the bounty system. Taking on the role of a bounty hunter leads to some of the most memorable side quests in the game, featuring unique optional boss fights that will truly test your skills. The Mythic Tales also return, rewarding your efforts with powerful new armour and legendary abilities.

Sucker Punch has clearly listened to feedback, as much of the “filler” content has been meaningfully expanded upon. Fox dens, bamboo strikes, and shrines are back, but they feel more integrated and less repetitive. They are now joined by new activities like clearing out bandits who harm wolves in quests called “wolf dens”. Post completion of the “wolf dens”, you will have a wolf accompany you in some combat encounters. While you can call upon a wolf as a mechanic, you can expect them to join you based on the number of wolf dens you have completed + the wolf upgrade path you’ve unlocked. There’s even a delightfully addictive coin-flicking mini-game called ‘Zeni Hajiki’ that I suspect players will be trying to replicate in real life.

The combat system has seen the biggest overhaul. Instead of stances, Atsu has access to a diverse arsenal of weapons you can switch between, including the Katana, Dual Katanas, a heavy Odachi, a long-reaching Spear, the versatile Kusarigama, a Bow, and even a powerful Matchlock Rifle. This is complemented by a host of tools like kunai, bombs, and the ability to set your weapons ablaze or throw dust to disorient foes. Your enemies are just as diverse, creating a satisfying “rock, paper, scissors” dynamic. While any weapon can damage any foe, using the right tool for the job is key. For example, a Katana is perfect for a duel, the Kusarigama is ideal for breaking a shield, and the Odachi makes short work of larger, brutish enemies.

The map itself is intelligently designed, branching out from a central region into distinct, sprawling areas where each member of the Yotei 6 has established a presence. This structure allows for incredible visual diversity, from remote snowy peaks and modernising towns to serene, sprawling beaches. The world is dense with secrets to uncover, traversal puzzles to solve, and breathtaking vistas to discover.

Graphics and sound: A denser, more stunning world

At first glance, Ghost of Yotei may look similar to its predecessor, but it is a significant leap forward. The world is richer, denser, and more vibrant. The diverse environments are absolutely stunning, making this one of the most visually stunning games available today. The game offers a suite of graphical options, including a Quality mode that targets 4K at 30 FPS, a Performance mode for a fluid 60 FPS, and a dedicated Ray Tracing mode for enhanced lighting and reflections. For a pixel-by-pixel breakdown, I’ll leave it to the experts at Digital Foundry, but on a large screen, the game is a visual feast.

The artistry extends beyond the landscapes. Character designs are intricate, animations are fluid, and the cinematic cutscenes are flawlessly directed. Even the in-game map retains a beautiful, rustic, old-school charm.

The sound design is equally impressive. The voice acting is superb across the board, with the quality of dialogue feeling more refined this time around. Atsu’s performance is a standout, occasionally channelling the comedic timing of Nora Lum during her witty one-liners. The background score is another major highlight, swelling to epic proportions during high-stakes moments. The clang of steel, the swish of a blade, and the roar of a cannon are all incredibly immersive, especially when experienced with headphones, where the 3D audio truly shines.

Verdict: A must-play masterpiece

The verdict is simple: If you liked Ghost of Tsushima, you will absolutely love Ghost of Yotei. In the same way that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 built upon its predecessor and God of War Ragnarök expanded on the 2018 reboot, Ghost of Yotei takes the incredible foundation of the original, amplifies its strengths, and smartly trims the bloat that some players criticised. The story is more focused, the gameplay is deeper, and the world is more engaging. With a satisfying level of challenge, especially in its bounty hunts, this game truly makes you feel like an unstoppable shinobi. Ghost of Yotei is a must-play for any fan of open-world action-adventure games and a shining example of what makes PlayStation exclusives so special.

Editor’s rating: 9.5/10

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We played a review copy of Ghost of Yoteii on the PS5.

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